A bacterial molecule enhances chemotherapy. To validate these results, the scientists tested the molecule in two additional systems: cultured human cancer cells and a fly model of colorectal cancer. This multi-pronged attack weakens the cancer cells and works in synergy with 5-FU. The combination was significantly more effective at killing cancer cells than either compound alone. This synthetic version proved even more powerful at killing cancer cells, demonstrating the potential to develop new drugs based on natural microbial products.